From the historical and enchanting Italian region of the islands of Sicily emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Pellegrino family. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they were characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most common type of family name found in Sicily is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, the nickname type of surname is also frequently found. Nickname surnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The surname Pellegrino is a name for a pilgrim having derived from the Latin name peregrinus, which means stranger or foreigner.

Pellegrino Early Origins

The surname Pellegrino was first found in 1129 with Papiro Pellegrino, from a noble family in Palermo.

Pellegrino Spelling Variations

Pellegrino Spelling Variations

Surnames that originated in Italy are characterized by an enormous number of spelling variations. Some of these are derived from regional traditions and dialects. Northern names, for instance, often end in "o", while southern names tend to end in "i". Other variations come from the fact the medieval scribes tended to spell according to the sound of words, rather than any particular set of rules. The recorded variations of Pellegrino include Pellegrino, Pellegrini, Pellegržn, Pellerini, Pellegrin, Pellerino, Pellegrinelli, Pellegrinetti, Pellegrinotti and many more.

Pellegrino Early History

Pellegrino Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pellegrino research. More information is included under the topic Early Pellegrino History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pellegrino Early Notables (pre 1700)

Pellegrino Early Notables (pre 1700)

Prominent among bearers of this surname in early times was Pellegrino Pellegrini, mayor of Recanati in 1420, and later, of Macerata. Pompeo Pellegrini was a famous doctor from Bologna around 1540; Matteo Pellegrini, from the same noble Bolognese family, was a philosopher, and founded the `Accademia della Notte', a philosophical group...

Another 117 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pellegrino Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

Investigation of immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Pellegrino:

Pellegrino Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Affineto Pellegrino, aged 17, who emigrated to the United States from Naples, in 1897

Pellegrino Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Agnese Pellegrino, aged 15, who landed in America from Salerno, Italy, in 1906

Agata Pellegrino, aged 36, who landed in America from Misalmeri, Palermo, in 1910

Alberto Pellegrino, aged 19, who emigrated to the United States from Marsala, Sicily, in 1910

Addolorata Pellegrino, aged 39, who landed in America from Trani, Italy, in 1911

Contemporary Notables of the name Pellegrino (post 1700)

Contemporary Notables of the name Pellegrino (post 1700)

Frank P. Pellegrino (1901-1975), American businessman and philanthropist, longest-serving Chairman and CEO of the International Hat Company

Frank Pellegrino, American actor and restaurateur, known for his roles in Goodfellas (1990), Cop Land (1997) and Mickey Blue Eyes (1999)

Mark Ross Pellegrino (b. 1965), American Screen Actors Guild Award nominated actor of film and television, known for The Big Lebowski (1998), National Treasure (2004) and The Number 23 (2007)

Edmund Daniel Pellegrino (1920-2013), American 11th President of The Catholic University of America, Chairman of the President's Council on Bioethics, founder of the Edmund D. Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics

Kurt Joseph Pellegrino (b. 1979), American mixed martial artist

Charles R. Pellegrino, the controversial American author of several books relating to science and archaeology

Giovanni Pellegrino (b. 1939), Italian politician, Senator of the Republic from 1990 with the Italian Communist Party

Michele Pellegrino (1903-1986), Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church

Alberto Pellegrino (1930-1996), Italian fencer

Vincenzo David Pellegrino (b. 1967), English actor, known for his roles in The Fifth Element (1997), Casualty (1986) and Where the Heart Is (1997)

The Pellegrino Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Pellegrino Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.